Abortion Has Become Litmus Test For Democratic Politicians, But Americans’ Views Are Muddled And Complex
The differences in poll results -- even from the same respondents who answer questions on aspects of abortion different ways when they're worded differently -- reveal Americans' struggle with the complex moral and ethical issues, even as the political conversation is dominated by people who have made up their minds. Meanwhile, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows strong support for Roe v. Wade, but also an interest in having restrictions on abortions.
The New York Times:
Politicians Draw Clear Lines On Abortion. Their Parties Are Not So Unified.
Abortion is often cast as a clear, crisp issue in Washington and in state governments, with Republicans and Democrats clustered in opposite corners. Joe Biden moved nearer to the rest of his party’s presidential contenders on Thursday when he dropped his support of a measure restricting use of federal funds for abortions. But while the Democratic field now looks more uniform, the public’s views are often muddled and complex. They bear little resemblance to those of politicians, or even to those of the activists and ideologically consistent voters who post political content to social media. (Cohn, 6/8)
NPR:
Abortion Poll: Majority Wants To Keep Abortion Legal, But With Restrictions
Three-quarters of Americans say they want to keep in place the landmark Supreme Court ruling, Roe v. Wade, that made abortion legal in the United States, but a strong majority would like to see restrictions on abortion rights, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll. What the survey found is a great deal of complexity — and sometimes contradiction among Americans — that goes well beyond the talking points of the loudest voices in the debate. In fact, there's a high level of dissatisfaction with abortion policy overall. Almost two-thirds of people said they were either somewhat or very dissatisfied, including 66% of those who self-identify as "pro-life" and 62% of those who self-identify as "pro-choice." (Montanaro, 6/7)
The Hill:
More Than Half Of Americans Identify As 'Pro-Choice': Poll
The poll found that 57 percent of Americans surveyed said they support abortion rights, while 35 percent said they were against the procedure. A similar poll in January found that 55 percent of Americans considered themselves “pro-choice,” while 38 percent identified as “pro-life.” (Bowden, 6/7)
The Hill:
Poll: 77 Percent Say Supreme Court Should Uphold Roe V. Wade
According to the poll, 26 percent of Americans want to keep Roe v. Wade in place, but add more restrictions. The survey found that a strong majority, 61 percent, said they favored a combination of limitations on abortion. (Frazin, 6/7)
CNN:
Abortion, Climate Change, Guns Top List Of Must-Have Issues For Likely Iowa Caucusgoers, Says Latest CNN Poll
Majorities of likely Iowa Democratic caucus participants say any candidate who hopes to win their support must favor a woman's right to abortion, recognize climate change as humanity's greatest threat, and support restoration of a ban on assault-style weapons, according to a new CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll. Other issues, including recent campaign touchstones such as support for Medicare for All, free tuition for public four-year colleges and restoration of felon voting rights are must-haves for less than half of caucusgoers, regardless of whether they plan to participate virtually or in person. (Agiesta and Sparks, 6/10)
Meanwhile, The Washington Post takes a look into history —
The Washington Post:
How Women Got Illegal Abortions Before Roe V. Wade
In January 1966, The Washington Post ran a four-part series on how women in the Washington area obtained abortions. At the time, abortion was illegal with few exceptions in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Now, nearly a half-century after Roe v. Wade, new abortion restrictions are being imposed in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio, Utah and other states. Below is an abridged version of The Post’s four-part series, edited to highlight personal experiences. The original headlines of the series are now subheads for each section. (Stevens, 6/9)
